Randa Fahmy is an Arab American Republican attending the 2016 Convention. Ms. Fahmy owns and operates a government relations and strategic consulting firm specializing in international issues and the energy sector. Ms. Fahmy supported Governor Chris Christie in the primary.

Q: Describe your history with the Republican Party?

I’ve been with the party since I could vote at 18. I cut my teeth with Ronald Reagan during the Reagan campaign and have worked on many presidential, senate, and congressional campaigns throughout the years. I was a political appointee and senior official in the Bush administration at the Department of Energy and, of course, worked as counselor to U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham. So I’ve done a lot with the party in official capacities and in campaigns.

Q: What's your role at the convention?

I am here basically for three purposes. I am with the New Jersey GOP delegation, Governor Chris Christie’s delegation. I am also speaking on some panels with respect to energy policy. And I am doing media interviews and analysis for a variety of domestic and international television stations.

Q: What are your thoughts about those Republican leaders who are skipping the convention?

Obviously this was a difficult primary season. Probably in all of the primaries that we’ve had, [this one had] the most candidates. A lot of people have hard feelings. I also think this was a different kind of convention because our nominee is not a politician, rather a business man. He doesn’t come from the Republican Party, so a lot of people feel a bit put out by that and have decided not to come. Certainly that’s their prerogative.

Q: Why did you decide to attend the Convention?

For three reasons really. I’m a huge supporter of Governor Christie from New Jersey and I would do anything to support him and his efforts, and of course he is supporting the nominee. I do quite a bit with the New Jersey delegation. I was also invited by the media to come play a role in speaking about the convention, so I felt that that was my duty to explain what is going on here at the RNC to domestic and international audiences. And of course, to lend my thoughts about energy policy to the next administration.

Q: What do you want to highlight from the GOP Platform Committee meetings?

Honestly, I don’t really think the platform is all that important when it comes to the policies of the next president. The platform really reflects the party’s feelings on issues, it doesn’t reflect what policies are going to be in the next administration. So, while the platform says some interesting things, they generally don’t translate into real policy in an administration.

Q: What does Donald Trump's nomination mean for those who skipped the convention and for the future of the Republican Party?

Well that remains to be seen. I really can’t speak for those who skipped the convention. I’m certainly here, and we’ll see how this plays out. Some people definitely disagree on things, but that’s not what it’s about. Ultimately, all of us have one thing in common, supporting the Republican Party.

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